Rachael defers Stanford, skates for another year?

[Mathman]

Is that a joke, MM? Shizuka looks so slim and elegant in that picture to me! as so impressive.

Indeed! No joke intended, though. Shizuka is bigger than Sasha (I think) and they both have outstanding posture.

[janetfan]

Yes exactly, Sasha is teeny tiny according to just about anyone, and doesn't look that great in that picture/dress. I really like the style of Rachael's prom dress, a skating dress in a style like that would look very nice on her I think.

Silverlake - you never cease to amaze me with your opinions about Sasha

I was kidding - and think that Sasha looks stunning in the picture I posted.

The picture mathman posted of Shiz is also stunning.

And I also agree that Rachael in her prom dress looks great.

You had said before everyone looks fat or chunky at times.
Sasha never, ever looks fat or chunky.

[princess9]

How this thread is just feeding the eating disorders and the idea that only a certain body type is acceptible. Tiny men and women are becoming the norm. Obviously certain ethnic groups have the advantage then. Cohen chunky? Puh-lease! Flatt is fine. Her posture is a little poor but then Dorothy will help I'm sure. There is room for real shapely women with meat on their bones. Anyone wanna say Dorothy is fat now too? I guess Janet Lynn was just too pudgy to be a truly great skater!

[blue_idealist]

She has the jumps. She really needs to work on general presentation, speed, spins.. what everyone else said. She isn't fat though. In my latest International Figure Skating magazine, she's pictured with Mirai and they're about the same size. I think that it's her extreme paleness that makes her look fatter than she really is. Her body fat percentage might be a bit higher than some of the skaters, who have larger frames and lower body fat percentages at the same weight (like Joannie Rochette), but it's not like she's dripping with rolls. I read that she was 115 lbs and Joannie is 117. It's crazy how much lighter the skaters look in person. I thought Joannie was like 135 lbs when I saw her on tv, but in real life she's tiny.

[janetfan]

You sound like you are blaming Rachael that none of Mirai, Ashley, Sasha, Christina, Amanda, Bebe, Alexe, Emily, Alissa, Caroline, Melissa, Becky, Samantha, Laney, Kristiene. Blake, Chelsea, Christin-Marua, Tatyana, Ellie, Rebecca, and Kayla -- that none of these beat Rachael at U.S. Nationals and then went on to win the Olympics and Worlds?

Rachael and Mirai did the best they could. Neither was Peggy Fleming or Dorothy Hamill. Where were the rest of the U.S. ladies?

Two thoughts will never change in my mind when it comes to skating.
1. Michelle won in Nagano.
2. Mirai won the 2010 US Natl championship on the ice.
What happened in the "backroom" does not change my mind.
I will go with Button and Hamilton's view over that of a few posters at GS who disagree with me.

[Mathman]

Sasha never, ever looks fat or chunky.

Here's that chunky chick right here:

http://www.listown.com/images/group/...0422113915.jpg

[princess9]

Gee, I thought Tara Lipinski won! And it was a great, memorable, lights out performance! Michelle is fabulous but techbically she was outskated. Tara was great. Rachael was great at nationals. The judges do care about consistency. I think the podium was fair. No one wuz robbed at Nagano or the nationals.

[Mathman]

2. Mirai won the 2010 US Natl championship on the ice.
What happened in the "backroom" does not change my mind.

I will go with Button and Hamilton's view over that of a few posters at GS who disagree with me.

That wasn't the thrust of my post. Whoever should have won or not won, it is not fair to complain that such-and-such skater is not Peggy Fleming and for that reason is an unworthy champion.

[PROKOFIEV]

How this thread is just feeding the eating disorders and the idea that only a certain body type is acceptible. Tiny men and women are becoming the norm. Obviously certain ethnic groups have the advantage then. Cohen chunky? Puh-lease! Flatt is fine. Her posture is a little poor but then Dorothy will help I'm sure. There is room for real shapely women with meat on their bones. Anyone wanna say Dorothy is fat now too? I guess Janet Lynn was just too pudgy to be a truly great skater!

THANK YOU, Princess9!! Skating is not like ballet. Yes, it requires artistry and elegance ,but that can be done by anyone. But to become the best ballerina, you must have a certain type of legs and hips. My friend's daughter was rejected at age 9 by one of the very best ballet compeny in Russia because of that. Rachael needs to work on presentation and speed etc, but to me she is one of the best skaters out there and She looks fine with the way she is.

[janetfan]

Gee, I thought Tara Lipinski won! And it was a great, memorable, lights out performance! Michelle is fabulous but techbically she was outskated. Tara was great. Rachael was great at nationals. The judges do care about consistency. I think the podium was fair. No one wuz robbed at Nagano or the nationals.

It was lights out alright - for a certain group of judges.

[Spun Silver]

If it's not like ballet, why do they wear those tiny spangly little dresses and all that makeup?

It's not just like tennis or golf, there's a performance/presentation aspect to it.

If they got rid of that and called it ice jumping we wouldn't be discussing Rachael's appearance.

And IMO thin has always been "in" (as in "you can never be too rich or too thin") in the US - just look at 1930s movies -- it's fat that's becoming fashionable as Americans get heavier.

[PROKOFIEV]

If it's not like ballet, why do they wear those tiny spangly little dresses and all that makeup?

It's not just like tennis or golf, there's a performance/presentation aspect to it.

If they got rid of that and called it ice jumping we wouldn't be discussing Rachael's appearance.

And IMO thin has always been "in" (as in "you can never be too rich or too thin") in the US - just look at 1930s movies -- it's fat that's becoming fashionable as Americans get heavier.

If you are expecting ballerina to skate, then some one like Ashley Wagner should not be on the ice either. She is way too masculine. When I saw her the first time, I was really suprised. She is definitely not a ballerina type.

[princess9]

Hey, that's not very nice!

I think she can improve her skating though, she didn't medal or even make top 5 at Worlds or Olys and finished lower than last year at Worlds. She also didn't qualify for the GPF, so I can see why she'd want to compete another year.

All the commentators placed Flatt in 5th in Vancouver and felt she was not scored fairly. She seemed to rotate her flips but they decided to place a couple other skaters higher. I think Flatt was amazing in her first Olympics and skated well for a US champion. Her legs aren't beautiful. But then not every skater has gams like Miki Ando. Most don't.

[princess9]

If you are expecting ballerina to skate, then some one like Ashley Wagner should not be on the ice either. She is way too masculine. When I saw her the first time, I was really suprised. She is definitely not a ballerina type.

Huh? I do not see anything masculine about her! She is no skinny sasha or mao butterfly, but masculine? I think she's lovely!

[PROKOFIEV]

Huh? I do not see anything masculine about her! She is no skinny sasha or mao butterfly, but masculine? I think she's lovely!

She is truly lovely!! I know, but if you see her close, she is really really masculine. Her body is full of muscles and you know what ? There is nothing wrong with that. My point is everyone has different type of body and that should be ok for figure skating.